Making News

OTTAWA -- Sierra Club Canada is very encouraged the U.S. State Department’s conclusion that the United States does not require the Keystone XL Pipeline to meet its energy demands.

“This clears the way for President Obama to reject the Keystone pipeline. If Keystone isn't needed, why would President Obama approve it," said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada. “This is clearly the most significant conclusion in the 2000 page report.”

Sierra Club Canada has concerns with some sections of the report, namely that the authors took a narrow view in their analysis of overall greenhouse gas implications associated with Tar Sands development.

Sierra Club Canada will continue its review of the State Department's draft environmental impact statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline and will use the 45 day comment period to respond to its shortcomings.... Read more »

Sierra Club executive director John Bennett does not believe the baby should be thrown out with the bath water.

He believes while Ontario's Green Energy Act may be imperfect, ground breaking legislation, it is still the centrepiece of Canada's response to climate change, the basic issue in the renewable energy debate.

At a Greater Napanee council meeting, Bennett was allowed to make his full presentation on the controversial topic in the Roblin community hall and there was an opportunity for questions and comment following the presentation.... Read more »

TORONTO, ON -- Once again, the federal government is proposing to make significant changes to environmental legislation without proper democratic debate, according to many of Canada’s leading environmental organizations.

Instead, these changes are contained in a sweeping omnibus budget bill.

Canadians concerned about protecting the air, water, soil and natural ecosystems that support all of us -- and our economy -- are doubly troubled, both by the end-run around democratic process and the potential for even more pollution and destruction of critical habitat.

The bill includes proposed changes to laws protecting fish and navigable waters, preventing harm from hazardous waste and governing the shipping industry.... Read more »

Canadian public should be alarmed by wholesale deregulation of environmental protection in Canada

MEDIA RELEASE

October 18, 2012

OTTAWA - The government of Canada continued its assault on environmental protection today with omnibus Bill C-45.

“Today’s killing of the Navigable Waters Act, along with further gutting of what’s left of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Fisheries Act, will inhibit the ability of Canadians to protect their natural environment for their children, grandchildren and future generations,” said John Bennett, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada.

"Canadians want to protect the environment and have a strong economy. We don’t need to sacrifice the planet to achieve the latter - the two aren’t mutually exclusive,” said Mr. Bennett.... Read more »

The Globe and Mail (September 27, 2012)
Environmentalists sue to force Ottawa to protect species along Northern Gateway route Add to ...
By Dene Moore

One of the most powerful foes of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline through northern British Columbia is not a lawyer or a conservation group or any of the many First Nations who have lined up against the project.

It’s a very large, very, very old fish.

The Nechako white sturgeon is listed as an endangered species under the federal Species At Risk Act, a designation which is supposed to legally protect the sturgeon’s habitat so the species can recover.

The pipeline is planned to cross the Stewart and Endako rivers, where the highly imperilled species — there are estimated to be only 335 left — live.
... Read more »

“Arctic Ocean ice is at an all-time low and we are in the midst of a record breaking year for heat waves, droughts and torrential rain storms,” said Sierra Club Canada Executive Director John Bennett. “We don’t have 50 years to fix this problem as the regulations will allow – action is needed now!”... Read more »

Ongoing weather events in the Arctic over the last few weeks and the resulting ice loss may have significant implications to the rate of climate change. Using satellite images, and the latest data being reported from established Arctic observers, Paul Beckwith of the University of Ottawa will provide a technical briefing on the present and the implications to future climate change. Space is limited please RSVP to: Executive.Director@sierraclub.ca or call 613.241.4611

Related Posts

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Importation of Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater Prohibition Act, which received its First Reading in the Nova Scotia Legislature three days ago.Sierra Club Canada is a national environmental organization...

From our friends at Ontario Clean Air Alliance:On April 8th, the Thunder Bay Generating Station burned its last lump of coal marking the end of an era in Ontario. Thunder Bay was the last of the province’s five dirty coal-fired generating...

Sierra Club's Waste Diversion Expert, Rob Muir, continues to emphasize the necessity of waste diversion to combat climate change. Local government has an important role in making it happen, however, the key is developing sustainable consumer...